Grip feed



GRIP FEED 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1955 mmm.

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l VENTORS 6 DHA/l. Y

ORGE/:F BY k A Kl ORNEY March 4, 1958 P. H. DANLY ET AL 2,825,560

GRIP FEED Filed Aug. 19, 1955 1o sheetsfsheet 3 0 ggg 5/0 f g 50 56 4Z ENTORS A ORNEY Mardi 4,' 1958 P. H. DANLY ET AL 2,825,560

GRIP FEED lO Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 1 9, 1955 om? J NQ D14/Vl. yv WIS/K` GEIPGEFF A RNEY March 4, 1958 l P, H. DANLY ET AL. 2,825,560

GRIP FEED Filed Aug. 1 9, 1955 l Inl| l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 4, 1958 P. H. DANLY ET AL- 2,825,560

GRIP FEED 'Filed Aug. 19, 1955 1o sheets-sheet 6 Y GEORGE/:F s ATT.

P /Lo M15/L RNEY Mardi 4, 1958 P. H. DANLY ETAL 2,825,560

GRIP FEED Filed Aug. 19, 1955 I- lO Sheets-Sheet 7 l: .L E i [j MLS@ A TORNEY March 4, 195s P. H. DANLY ET AL 2,825,560

GRIP FEED Filed Aug. 19, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 15. H. DANLY ET AL GRIP FEED March 4, 195s 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 19, 1955 xNvENToRsf. -P14/Lo H. Da/Y Vas/L Geo/:GEFF BY oRNEY March 4, 1958 P. H. DANLY ET AL 2,825,560

GRIP FEED Filed Aug. 19, 195s 1o sheets-sheet 1o l vENToRs PH/LO. DAM/ y Vq/ Geo/EGEM:

A ORNEY arent 2,325,555@ Patented Mar. 4, 1958 hice GRIP FEED Philo H. Danly, Hinsdale, and Vasil Georgeff, La Grange Park, lll., assignors to Danly Machine Specialties, Inc., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application August 19, 1955, Serial No. 529,518

22 Claims. (Cl. 27h-f2.5)

Our invention relates to a grip feed and more particularly to a grip feed for feeding continuous sheet material to a machine, such as a power press, in predetermined lengths in phased relation with the press operation.

Power presses used in the manufacture of automobile parts and in the manufacture of other heavy goods are large and expensive pieces lof machinery. It is desirable that a high production rate be achieved with a power press in order that the capital investment represented by the press may be recovered in as short a period of time as is possible in profit from the manufactured product. There are presently available high speed power presses which are capable of performing a large number of operations in a predetermined short period of time. In certain types of press operations, such, for example, as the formation of automobile body parts, lengths of sheet material, such as steel, are fed to the press which forms the lengths into the desired part. These sheets of material cannot manually be fed to the power press fast enough to permit it to operate at is maximum capacity. Further, owing to the high cost of labor, manual feeding of the sheets to the press greatly increases the cost of the finished part. For these reasons it is desirable that a continuous sheet of material be fed in predetermined lengths to the press, which may, in addition to performing its forming operation, cut the sheet into the predetermined lengths. Such a feed permits a high rate of production since the press may perform very nearly its maximum number of operations per unit period of time. Further, labor costs are substantially reduced with the result that the nished product is less expensive.

We have invented a grip feed for feeding a continuous sheet of material in predetermined lengths to a machine, such as a power press or the like, which is to perform operations on the sheet material. Our feed enables us to take advantage of the large number of operations per unit period of time which can be performed on modern high speed presses. It eliminates much manual handling with the result that it materially reduces the cost of producing parts.

One object of our invention is to provide a grip feed for feeding sheet material to a machine, such as a power press, in predetermined lengths in phased relation with the press operations.

Another object of our invention is to provide a grip feed which permits a power press or the like with which it is used to operate at very nearly its maximum number of operations per unit period of time.

A further object of our invention is to provide a grip feed which materially reduces the labor costs involved in the manufacture of parts on a machine such as a power press for the like.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general, our invention contemplates the provision of an improved grip feed for feeding continuous sheet material to a power press or the like in predetermined lengths including a frame disposed adjacent the press to be fed and feed means mounted for reciprocation on the frame. Drive means operated by the press drive reciprocates the feed means on the frame. We provide the feed means with means to be actuated to grip the material being fed. At the beginning of a feeding stroke, the press control actuates the gripping means to grip the material which is advanced as the feed means makes its feed stroke. At the end of the feed stroke, the grip ping means is actuated to release the material. We provide our grip feed with means responsive to the press operation for clamping the sheet material in position at the end of the feed stroke. This clamping means is released at the beginningvof the' next -feed stroke. We provide our grip feed with manually operated means for advancing the continuous sheet -of material to the feed means to initiate operation of our grip feed.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

Figure l is a side elevation of our grip feed assembly.

Figure 2 is a top plan view taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l of our grip feed.

Figure 3 is a front elevation taken along the line 3 3 of Figure l of our grip feed with some parts broken away and other parts shown in section.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure l of our grip feed with parts broken away, drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a sectional view drawn on an enlarged scale and taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 3 of our grip feed.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn on an enlarged scale and taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 2 of our grip feed.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 7 7 of Figure 6 -of :our grip feed.

Figure 8 is a sectional view drawn on an enlarged scale and taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 2 of our grip feed.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 8 of our grip feed.

Figure l0 is a sectional View drawn on an enlarged scale taken along the line 10 10 of Figure 2 of our grip feed.

Figure 1l is a sectional View taken along the line 11-11 of Figure l0 of our grip feed with parts removed.

Figure l2 is a perspective view of the drive means of our grip feed with some parts removed and other parts broken away.

yFigure 13 is a fragmentary perspective View of the drive gear cutout means of our grip feed with some parts removed and other parts broken away.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the manually operated feed-in rolls -of our grip feed.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary front elevation of the manually operated feed-in rolls of our grip feed.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 16 16 of Figure 14 of the manually operated feed-in rolls of our grip feed.

Figure l7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of Figure 14 of the manually operated feed-in rolls of our grip feed.

Figure 18 is a side elevation of the uid pressure operating system for our grip feed.

More particularly referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, our grip feed includes a frame, indicated generally by the reference character 1li, formed by a front plate 14, a rear plate 16 and a pair of side plates 18 and 20 joined to eachother by any convenient means, such as bolts, welding or the like. As can be seen by reference toFigures 1 aud'3, a pair of standards '21, each one of which is disposed adjacent a respective side of the frame 10, `carry `adjustable .jacks 22 Ywhich support brackets24 fixed to vthe-front plate 1.4 Vby.meai 1ssuch as welding or vthe like. `.lacks 22 include .driveshafts ,26 which maybe'driven Aby any .convenient means v-kr'lownto the art to operate .the jacks to Araise the frontplate `14 of our grip feed. A

A pairof .rear plate ,support jacks 28carried bystandards .30 disposed vinboard ofstandards 21 adjacent lrear plate 16 4support brackets 32 .fixed tto the rearplate 16 bymeans such as .b olts `34. Jacks28 include .shafts 36 whichmay be driven vin any v.known manner to l raise .the rear support plate .16. From `thestructure thus ,far vdescribed, -it --will .be seen "that jacks 22fand X.28prckwide a means ier adjusting the ...height -.0.f :the trame 10 with 1respect ,to lfloor level and ,of :leveling fthe frame. In .order @secure-frame A110 .in the. .ppsiton 10 which .it has. `been raised by jacks .22 ;fand28, wwe .form rear'plate ,116 with a number of slots 38 for receivingbolts 40 -byfmeans of which the Vrearplate 16 mayrbe :secured -to eanuprightAZ carried .bythe floor onfwhich .the feed is supported.

Referringinowto'Figures vf2, 4.and6 to 8, each of the 'bores 112 in the respective carriers '96 ls'lidbly mount carriers 96 on rods 102. Springs 114 surrounding `the shanks of rods 102 bear between bushings 108 and washers 116 held on rods 102 by retaining nuts 118. It will be seen that springs 114 normally urge carriers 96 and carriers 72 toward each other to :force grippers 88 and 100 together to clamp the .material :90 being fed.

We provide means for releasing the clamping pressure of springs 114 at V-predetermined'- points in the cycle tof operations of theL'press.withwhichoungrip lfeed is used. Referring again to vFigure *8, we mount' a respective fluid pressure cylinder 120-son each of theicarriers 72. ,Each carrier 96 normally rests on the piston 1'22 slidably mounted within'the cylinder 120 mounted on the corresponding carrier 72. We connect a fluid pressure feed pipe 124 to an opening 126 in the base of cylinder 120.

- Whenfluid underpressure is admitted tocylinder 120 ,by

respective v,side plates :181;andi20, together with the front i and '-rearoplates 14and vr16,support a yframe member 44 forming a guideway 46 in which we dispose ways-48 for supporting .a -rack 50 for :sliding movement back and yforth .along fthe :frame :10. As can best beseen by reference to Figure 9, we 'formfonefendfoffeach-ofthe racks S0 .with-La Acounterbore 52 in which we mount va rod54, a threadedrend-i56 of'which carries ahead 5.8. Bored nuts 60 threaded into the ends of1counterbores52mount the respective "rods :.54 lfor'sliding movement within ,counterbores 4V52. :A respective ycoil `spring 62 surroundseachfof the rods 54 and bears between a collar 66 adjacent fnut 60 andia'ollar 57fadjacenthead 58 carried'by ythe `rod 54. A-lEiachpair-.cf collars 57i-and 166 is .slidablymounted on the shank of a respective rod.54. :,It'will .be'seenthat eachfspring=62 normally urges its associated rod 54 :tothe right with respect to rack 50 as viewed in Figuref9. The engagement of a collar 57 with the :end ofthe associated bore S2 limits the movement :of the corresponding .rod 54 to the right under the influence of spring 62. ENuts 68 Asecure respective arms '-70 carried by means of.-bolts 74 on lower feed bar support Imembers, indicated :generally by the lreference :character 72, to venlarged ends 64 Yof v*rods 54. Bolts `76 :and 78 :fasten carriers '72 to respective slides 80 mounted in ways 82 formed'inracks 50. It willbe seen that thefeedlbar fsupport members 72 disposed 4adjacent the respective -rsidelpl-ates 18 and 20 ofthe feed -are mounted Vforflimited movement uwith respect to the respective =raoks 50. The 'enlarged portions 64 on rods 54 engage collars 66 and move the collarsfto the right against the :action of-sp1`-ings62 when carriers 72 move ytothe right with respectlto racks 50.

Referring now VtoiFigures '8- and9., eachfofithecarriers 7-2 is formed'with a supportf84. l'Supports 84 carry between them the 'lowerlfeed bar, -indicatedgenerallyby the reference characterSyo. our grip feed. =`Bar 86'- carries adjacent'each of its ends a gripper 88 for lgrippingftl'ie material 90, such as sheet steelY-orlthefli-ke, being '-fed to the press with which our feedlis used.

We mount an upper feed Ybar, `:indicated generally Aby the'reference character 92, o'f our-grip feed between Vsupports v94 formed 1on carriers '96disposed adjacentfrespective side Yplates 18` `and 20. vlll/'e 'form eachof the 'lower pipe `12.4, pist-011.122 moves upwardly to..d1" ive` the assof ciated. carrier 96 upwardly againstthe action .of the corref spondingspring 114. y:The simultaneous vadmission `0f uid under pressure to both cylinders /1'20 raises both carriers 96 to movethe ,upper feed .bar.92 Tupwardly as viewed in Figure ..8 .against ,the yaction `of springsA 114` to relieve `vtheclamping Ygpressure of grippers .88 and 10.0 on the .material y90 'being fed. We ,provide `means to ,be described .hereinafter .for :admitting dluid .under pressure to pipes v124 .in timed relation with press operations to Y relieve `the 4feed .bar-clamping pressure .onthe material Y90 being fed. Y Y

We provide vmeans for reciprocatingrack to. drive the feed bar :assembly yincluding the vupper .and .lower .feed barsf92 and f86 .back and' forthialong .the .frame 10. .As can fbe.seen byreference topliguresr 4, l2 and .13, ashafft Y 126 `driven by Vvthe ,flywheel (notshown) tof ,the :PDwer press with which ourfgripeed lis'usedrcarriesfot-.rotation with ,ita-bevel gear 128 which engages and Ydrives a'bevel gear :.130 xedfon the hub 132 of a crank disk 134 .for rotation with it. v.Disk 13.4 carries 2a .crank .pin..13 6 to which we pivotally connect .a ydrive link vr138 4slidably mounted on amember y140 supported ,by brackets 142 and 1,44 :carried by the base 146 `-of .a,housing, indicated generally by `rthe 'reference fcharacter 148, -xed by .any eonvenientmeans .to supportplate 1-8. Member 1140 permits the inecessary :rocking movement ofdrivelink .138 asy crank `disk13-4 lrotates. Teeth 1,50 -forrned :on vlink 138 drivera.- gear :152 fixed Ona-shaft `1541er rotation vwith it. Bushings f15'6 4:and 158 fcarried by` the Yrespective brackets 1421-and 144 frotatably support 4 shaft 7154 on therarne :10. A gearf160carried 'byfshaft "1524 for rotation ywith 'itnormally vengages a 4Ygear1'62:carried by a en frame L10bybushing`s 168 `and ',170 'carriedrespectively spective bearings `1f80and-182 carrie'din' side :plates .18

feed bar carriers 72 with vertical, ways 93 linlwhich -we mount the upper feed bar carriers 96. A gripper .100 extending substantially across lthe width of bar l92 and supported on the bar by'any convenient means 'cooperates with grippers 88 to 'grip the material-90 'when 'the'bars 86 `and 92 are clamped -in 'afmannerfto Ibefdescribetl.

We disposed `respective vertically yextending :rods '102 formed with vheads 1'04 iin :counter-bored holes :1106.:in carriers 72. p Pairs of bushings 108 and 110 carried in 'by`bracket 144 andbyplaltef1.8.k Shaftf166 carries for rotationwith it.the.drivingfmember of an overload slip eluteh, indicated generallyfbythe reference character 17.2. The driven member of clutch 172 carries,a.gear,174"for rotation vwith .it. VWhen gear 4160 drives vgear 162 vto rotate shaft T166, .clutch :1:72 4drives rgear 17.4 apredetermined driving force. Gear 174engages11and' drives a ygear 176 fixed on a shaft 178 for rotation 'withit .1Re-

and20lrotatably'fsupportshaft'178 on 'frame .110. Shaft 178 carries for rotationgwithit respective gears1'84 and 186wl1ichdrive the respective-racks S0 supported on s ide plateslS and'20.

It .will .be-.seen .that Aas disk L134 4rotates, link '138;reciprocates to oscillate gear 152. When gear i60/ism engagement with ,gear 162,'.c1utch .172 soscillates ,gear 174 f with a predetermined drivingiorce. -.It will lne-lm teclweemploy '.a stepmp ,'gear ,-ratioso .that asma ll ,throwof crank pin v136 will .freciproate `racks :50 through :@theref` quired :large amplitude'of -rreciprocating .,motion.

oscillation of gear 174 reciprocates racks v50 and the feedr 176, shaft 178 and gears 184 and 186.

We provide manually operable means for dsengaging gear 162 from gear 160 to interrupt the feed bar drive when desired. As can best be seen by reference to Figures 4, 12 and 13, we form gear 162 with a hub 188 formed with an annular recess 190 engaged by an operating arm 192 carried by a rack 194 for movement with it. We slidably mount rack 194 in housing 148 by any convenient means (not shown) and mount a pinion 196 on a shaft 198 for rotation with it. A bearing 200 carried by housing 148 rotatably carries shaft 198 in the housing. A crank 292 fixed on shaft 198 for rotation with it provides a means for rotating pinion 196 to drive rack 194 to move member 192 to drive gear 162 along the splined portion 164 of shaft 166 to disengage gear 162 from gear 16S. Rotation of crank 202 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 13 shifts gear 162 to the left as viewed inthe figure to disengage it from gear 160 and interrupt the feed bar drive.

The direction of feed of the sheet material is from right.

to left as viewed in Figure 1. When the feed bar assembly moves from its extreme right-hand position, indicated in solid lines, pipe 124 is out of communication with the uid pressure source to be described hereinafter to permit springs 114 to clamp the material 90 between grips 88 and 100. When the feed bar assembly arrives at its extreme left-hand position, indicated in broken lines in Figure 1, we provide means to be described hereinafter for connecting pipe 124 to a source of fluid under pressure to operate pistons 122 to relieve the pressure of springs 114 urging bars 86 and 92 toward each other to release the material being fed.

Referring now to Figures 1, 4, and ll, we provide a clamping bar assembly, indicated generally by the reference character 204, for gripping the material being fed during the period 'of time when the feed bar assembly moves from its extreme left-hand position as viewed in Figure 1 to its right-hand or full-line position. It is to be understood that during this period of time fluid under pressure is continuously supplied to pipe 124 to cause the release of the material from the feed bars 86 and 92. As can best be seen by reference to Figure 10, rear plate 16 carries by any convenient means, such as welding or the like, adjacent the respective members 44, brackets 206 to which we secure by means, such as bolts 208, the lower clamping bar and support members`210. Members 210 support between them by means such as welding the lower clamping bar 212 of our grip feed. We adjustably mount a pair of grips 214 along the length of bar 212 and x them in position by set studs 216 held in position by nuts 218.

Each of the end supports 210 carries a uid pressure cylinder 226 within which we mount a piston 222. Pipes 224 are adapted to supply fluid under pressure to cylinders 220 below pistons 222V to drive the pistons upwardly as viewed in Figure 10. A pair of upper clamping bar and supports 226 normally rest on pistons 222. Sup'- ports 226 carry between them by means such as welding the upper lclamping bar 228 to which we X by any convenient means a grip 230 for cooperation with grips 214. We mount a pair of rods 232 formed with heads 234 in counterbored holes 236 formed in the respective supports 210. Pairs of bushings 238 and 240 carried by the supports 226 slidably carry the supports on rods 232. Each one of a pair of springs 242 bears between bushing 238 and a washer 244 held on a rod 232 by retaining nuts 246 to urge bars 212 and 228 toward each i other normally to clamp the material being fed between grips 214 and 230. Piston 222 provides a meansvfor moving supports 226 and a bar 223 upwardly as viewed in Figure 10 to unclamp the material being fed when fluid under pressure is supplied to pipe 24. As will be explained hereinafter, when the feed bar assembly moves from right to left as viewed in Figure 1, uid under pressure is supplie-d continuously to pipe 224 to'release grips 214 and 230 to. permit the material being fed to pass between bars 212 and 228. In the course of this movement pipes 124 are not in communication with the source of duid under pressure. When the feed bar assembly arrives at its extreme left-hand position as viewed in Figure 1, the pressure on pipes 224 is relieved to permit bars 212 and 228 to clamp the material being fed. At the same time uid under pressure is supplied to pipes 124 to release the material being fed from bars 86 and 92 to permit the feed bar assembly to return to its righthand position as viewed in Figure l.

We provide stops for limiting the movement of the feed bar assembly in both directions of its movement. As can best be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 4, each support 211i carries a fixed stop 248. Referring now to Figure 7, We secure a pair of annular cylinder-forming members 256 and 252 to each of the carriers72 at the ends of a bore 254 formed in the carrier 72. This may conveniently be accomplished by means such as screws 256. Members 250 and 252 together with bore 254 form a dashpot cylinder in which we slidably mount a bored piston 258. Each piston 258 includes a pair of cylindrical extensions 260 and 262 extending outwardly through the annular members 25t1and 252. A pipe 264 connected to a source of fluid, such as oil, under pressure supplies uid to a reservoir 266 connected by respective pipes 268 and 27? to bores 272 and 274 leading to bore 254 on the respective sides of piston 258. The length of extension 262 of piston 258 is such that when the feed bar assembly arrives at the extreme lefthand position as viewed in Figure 1 the extension 262 engages a stop Stop 248 arrests the movement of piston 258 and the feed bar assembly continues to move against the oil pressure within the bore 254 until it stops. It is to be understood that the drive for racks 50 is at this time in the neighborhood of one of its reversal points.V if the feed bar assembly is stopped before the rack drive reaches the reversal point, slip clutch 172 permits relative motion between the rack drive and the racks until reversal takes place.

Movement of the feed bar assembly from left to right as viewed in Figure 1 is limited by adjustable stops 276 carried by worms 278. Referring now to Figures 2 and 4 to 7, we form stops 276 with keys 280 which ride in keyways 282 formed in members 44 to prevent rotation of stops 276 with worm 27S when the worm is driven 'in a manner to be described. more particularly to Figure 5, ileXible couplings 284 connect worms 278 to shafts 286 rotatably mounted in bearings, indicated generally by the reference character 288, carried by brackets 296 supported on frame 10. As can be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 5, a motor 292 connected by respective flexible couplings 294 to shafts 296 drives a pair of gears 298 in housings 300. Gears 29S mesh with gears 3112 carried by shafts 286 for rotation with the shafts. When motor 292 is energized, it drives gears 298 to drive worms 278 to move stops 276 to the proper position on frame 16 to arrest the feed bar assembly at the proper point in its movement to the right as viewed in Figure 1. When, during the course of its movement to the right as viewed in Figure 1, the feed bar assembly approaches stops 276, extensions 260 on piston 25S engage the stops and the feed bar assembly continues to move against the action of the fluid in lbore 254 until the feed bar assembly stops.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, we secure a pair of spaced bearing support plates 364 to the front plate 14 by means such as bolts 3% passing through anges 308 carried by the plates. Plates 364 support between them a plurality of sheet material supporting rollers 310, 312

and 314 mounted in respective pairs of bearings 316 and 31,8, 320 and 322, and 324 and 326 carried by platesV 3114. yin passing into our grip feeder the material' being Referring nowv fed, passes over' rollers Sli); and 3714. in; ksuccessionv inthefdirection;indiatedjby therfarrowsin 'Figurejl'lH As canbel seen by reference to Figuresll t'o13 and`lf4 Y tof17,fvve provide.releasable"manilallyY operable means Vfoi initiating thefeeding of stock, such as sheet material,

tothe feedb'ar'assemblyfof'our grip. feed.k Each of the bearing. support plates'3ll4 has a bracket 328s'ecured to Y' it by means offbolts .336. Brackets 328 carry respective bushings 332which supportV4 the shaft ends 3341 ofV a bottorn feed-in roll V336. VAstub shaft 338 rotatablyfcarried in arbushing 340 in one Vof the brackets 328 hasa gear 342"secureduo itby a key 344. A"cr'ankfhandle 346 Vlixed on shaft338 Vfor ro'tatic'mfvvithv it provides'a means fo'irotating; shaft` 338 torrotateV g'earl342.Y Gear 342 meshes with anddrivesfa gear 348 fixed by a key 350 an inlet. port of a simple'bn.- Y

. cylinders"IZassociated with'the feed bar'assembly; Conf veniently, valves 414i and 41`8fma'y be solenoid operated on oneoffthe shaft ends. 334 for rotation with it. it will be seengthat-'operation of crankihandlef346 rotates shaft 33810 driveb'ear 348v and feed-in roll 336. Y A Vpair of bearing blocks 352`mounted` in ways 354 formedv in brackets 328! above -roll 336car'ry bearings 356 .vvhichj Vsupport.Y the'slaft ends 358 ofa 'top feed-'in roll 360.

valves; the solenoidwindingsof Whih'arei'energiz'edinfr. -respons'eitogoperatinroffa rotary press limitiswitch (not shown) in a mannerl known t'o the artf'Sh av limit' Y swtchis shown in ouivcopendingLapplication" Serial No.V 365,107; iiled'Ine30-,jl9'533 now 'Ipatentg No.;.2;75354051.v

In operation. of'our grip feed; tovstart a feedingopera'-Y tion,y we passra sheetoflmaterialA tobe Yfedy over rollers,

Members 362 securedfto fbr'ackets1328'by'bolts 364 recarries an upright 366 extnding'throgh a' suitable operi-v ingfin' member 352. We thread: one endY ofiec'h of a pair of 'studs 368 in'onerof the respective members 362.

Bolts368 passupwardly through suitable Vopenings in members37yfixed by'any:convenientrmeans such as @Welding tonprights 366i Springs 372 bearing between Y Y members 370. and'washe'rs 374 retained on bolts by 'nuts 376 force blbcksj3521cgarrying:the upper feedin 'rol1'360 Y ldc'avvnwardly"as viewed in Figurel4 to'forcefroll 360 againstroll'. It will' be seen that aetuation'oficrank Y handle346" drives the Yfeed-in rolls to f drawjjthe AVsheet material Abeing'fecl into- Aonr'grip Vfeed`to'vva`rd 'theffeed bar assembly..

e. Vvprovidejrneansjfor relieving the pressureof springs Y 372 to freeltheA material being fed Yfrom the feed-inrolls' 336 and 366 whenV automatic'feed Yis'inV operation.

ferringinoWto'Figures 1 and 1-4 Vto 177, we pivotally mount Vrespective bell'cra'nks having arms 37.3"and' 380 on stub Y shaftsf382^xed in brackets 32S. VWe form-arms 389 with YYcainstirfaces 384 which normally Yengagefthe" bases ofblocksa/SZ;Y VThe'other arms,378"carrry pins'386 which 1 pivotallymount cam foHoWer rollers YSVSfAA pair of'V stub Yshafts 390 rotatably mounted'inbrat-:kets` 328'by bushings 392 carry forgrotation with themv adjacent each in. Figure 1'4V to Yraisefblocks27352 againstv the action of i '.s'pringsf372 tovrrelease'the materialll being fed from Yfeed-in rolls- 3736l and 369. Thisgisthe position of-:the

parts shown .in Figures-land 14 to 17;'

fper'feed. and-clampfbars in the-space on the'rlower feed Y and clampbarsivhichis not occupied by grips 68ior21-4- Wefprovide: an` additional bar 402 "disposed in' openings; 40Y4Yingtheri1pper feed and clamp "bars and supported be` I twee'nrplates 14 V*and 16. for YpreventingV bowing ofthe sheet; materialvdn'ring feeding.; 1'

Referring now Atoll'igures. 8277717077 and-lSQside'Y plat/e Y2) fcarriesbracke`'4tl6-andlibwhich supporta tank-410 supplied; rluigd,A slichias.Y eompressed. airV or tain blocks 1352 inways 354. VV`lacli'fofthe blocks'352 -cluding bars e StiA andV VVVSP2:YV Afterthe material-hasl been; .Y

advanced'.manuallyfV theY require'dl distance into -Y onrgripl Y feed by'actation of crankihandlee346fvve fmQYeh-andIe 398 to pivot the=bel1l `crrank inluding-armsand 380'?AV each otherto; griplth'e material-being fed between gripsi SS-and100.} .Y Thefprs's; drive rotateserankrdisk 1734 to; oscillate gears 178.4V and 1786lthrough clrtchl feedbarassembly-bacleandgforthlalongfthefframe 10i @rtm1-line posrrionishown.ingrigre igncarries .the kSheet..

Vmaterial to the Aclamping bafrassembly-Zil.- lDuring. this:

and-lower clamping bars' 228 and:.21*27to'gethe1.V Atthe f same timefrvalve 41.8. is. nottope'rated. so thatsno'. uid., under pressure fis fed to pipel 124 'with'V they result that i .sprin'gsf114 clamp!` the'rmaterial; being fedibetvveen? grips Y. f

88 and'100. VAs the feed bar;` assemblyfarrivesf atezits'- extreme*leftl.V

hand; or, broken-line. position shovviain Figure-Lexten-L sions i262A on YdashpotpistonsqZSS, engage-,the Vfixed; stops;

Vv24.3 carried by; the framereari plate.:l to a11'e :'st;t 11el move-Yi Vment of'thefedabarf assembly. Advanta'geons'ly;iats'thisff; Y -time theV drive frrithe. feedirbar has* reached one liniitiofj its movement; "Iff for .any reason the drive'still operates.:

V'Ascan beseenby referenceto `ligures/l; 2andf4;a'dV y vantageously We: provide. material support .rods`g7400 adj justablyrspportfed by any convenient means betweengthe Y front andrear support Vplatesl and -16 of -the machine.V`

As can bestbe seen'by reference tofFigure 4, bars 4b()v are disposed underthe Vgrips 1&9 and V230y carriedl by the-np@ to urge ythe feedjba'r-.assembly/to.theileft'asiviewedarinf Figure 1, clutch172V slips to permit'relatiye movementy between. thedriYe/and'. the feed banassembly; y When the directionrof'd'rive of the feed barassembly; reverses,V the press. limitfsWit-ch .causes tim'edzQoperation V ofvalvesA 414;V and 2 418 .tov disconnect pipe `2244 from:k the/.ffV Lsource of .fluidunderfpressuregandfto-Vonnet valve 418 j to the source of uidgn-der pressure;Y Thisfaction movesV Y pistons V122v Vtojrelease the; material' beinglfed fronti grips.

as and 100 and te clama the. -m'aterialffrbetweenfthe i 'clamping -bar` grips, 214'V andY 230 under `theY action2 of springs 242;.Y Thus, asitheY feed banassembly moves fromY i. .i leftto right; as.A viewed in Eigure., 1', t he`fc1am1giing-tyar'ggiplsj Y f retainv the material'beingifedinzpositipn i When. the fed vbariassembly arrives at. estreme* right-hand or full-line Vposit-ion shownirt'Fignrt=,'1?55X,l i tnsian's 26a engage the:motoridriyeum'ovabie stops 27.6. to`V arrest 'the movement off-tha feedba. assembly; -At Y this time the pressl.limit"switch'renergizes*circuits? to.k j Vf operate valves 414 and'41S#togconneetpipe22411@ai;Y

124V fromme schnee.Y This'actien-'elipe the material..Y

K Y ,'garsvi Y 184 and'l 186 oscillate; '.rackst SlT-*- reciprocateftol drive the being fed between feed bar grips '88 and 100 and release the material from the grips 214 and '236. When the feed bar drive reverses vthe material is advanced to the left as viewed in Figure l to the machine with which the grip feed i's used. Jacks V22 and 28 may be driven to raise or lower vthe level of frame lo and the feed mecha- 'nism carried by the frame.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of 'our invention. We have provided a grip feed for feeding a continuous sheet of material in predetermined lengths to a machine, such as a power press or the like, with which our feed is used in proper phase relation with the operation of the press. Our feed materially reduces stock handling in the manufacture of parts on a machine, such as a power press, to reduce the ultimate cost of the products produced. Our feed permits us to operate a power press at very nearly its maximum capacity to afford a high rate of production of parts.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinat-ions are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further `obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. it is therefore to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A grip feed for feeding continuous sheet material in predetermined lengths including in combination a frame, clamping means carried by said frame, normally effective means for actuating said clamping means to grip a sheet of material, feeding means adapted when actuated to grip said sheet, means mounting said feeding means for reciprocation on the frame, normaliy ecctive means for actuating said feeding means to grip the material being fed, drive means for reciprocating said feed means with a feed stroke toward said clamping means and with a return stroke away from the clamping means, and a control means for rendering said clamping means actuating means ineffective during the said feed stroke and for rendering the feeding means actuating means ineffective during the return stroke.

2. A grip feed for feeding continuous sheet material in predetermined lengths including in combination `a frame, a clamping bar assembly comprising an upper clamping bar and a lower clamping ba-r carried by the frame, means normally urging said upper clamping bar and said lower clamping bar toward each other to grip the sheet of material, a feed bar assembly comprising an upper feed bar and a lower feed bar carried by the frame, means normally urging said upper feed bar and said lower feed bar toward each other to clamp a sheet of material being fed, means mounting the feed oar assembly for reciprocation on the frame, drive means for reciprocating the feed bar assembly with a feed stroke toward the clamping bar assembly and with a return stroke away from 'the clamping bar assembly and means for rendering the clamping bar urging means ineffective during the feed stroke and for yrendering the feed bar urging means ineffective during the return stroke.

3. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which the means for urging the upper clamping bar toward the lower clamping bar includes means providing a connection between the upper and lower clamping bars and a spring acting on said connecting means.

4. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which the means for urging the upper feed bar -toward the lower feed bar includes means providing a connection between the npper and lower feed bars and a spring acting on said connecting means.

5, A grip feed as in claim 2 in which the means for urging the upper clamping bar toward the lower clamping bar includes a spring, said means for rendering the clamping bar urging means ineective including a cylinder having a piston associated therewith, said piston being disposed to ers-assoc 10 A moveisa'id upper clamping'bar away from the lower clamp ing bar against the action of said spring when uid under pressure is supplied to said cylinder, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder during said feed stroke.

6. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which the means for urging the upper feed bar toward .the lower feed bar includes a spring, said means for rendering the feed bar urging means ineffective including la cylinder having a piston associated therewith, said piston being disposed to urge said upper feed bar Aaway from the lower feed bar against the action of said spring'when uid under pressure is supplied to said cylinder and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder during said return stroke.

7. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which said upper feed bar includes a clamp, said lower feed bar including a second clamp and means for adjustably mounting said second clamp on said lower feed bar.

8. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which said upper clamping bar includes a grip, said lower clamping bar including a second grip, and means for adjustably mounting said second grip on said lower clamping bar.

9. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which said driving means includes a rack, a gear in engagement with the rack, and means for oscillating said gear to reciprocate said rack.

10. A grip feed as in claim 2 including an overload slip connection coupling said driving means and said feed bar assembly.

ll. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which said driving means includes a rack, a gear in engagement with said rack and means for oscillating said gear with a force of predetermined maximum limit to reciprocate said gear.

12. A grip feed as in claim 2 including respective stops for limiting the movement of said feed bar assembly on its feed stroke and on its return stroke.

13. A grip feed as in claim 2 including a fixed stop and a movable stop for limiting the movement of said feed bar assembly in its respective feed stroke and return stroke and means for adjusting the position of the movable stop.

t4. A grip feed as in claim 2 including means for supporting said frame and means for adjusting the position of said frame on said supporting means.

l5. A grip feed as in claim 2 including means for initiaing movement of a sheet of material toward said feed bar assembly.

16. A grip feed as in claim 2 including a pair of feed-in rolls carried by said frame, means normally urging said feed rolls toward each other and means for driving said feed rolls to advance a sheet of material toward the feed bar assembly.

17. A grip feed as in claim 2 including a pair of feed-in rolls, means for urging said feed-in rolls toward one another to grip a sheet of material, means for driving said feed-in rolls to advance said sheet and manually operabie means for dendering ineffective said means for urging the feed-in rolls toward one another.

18. A grip feed as in claim 2 including support roliers for supporting a sheet of ymaterial being fed into the grip feed.

19. A grip feed as in claim 2 including bars for supporting the sheet of material being fed.

20. A grip feed as in claim 2 including bars for supporting a sheet of material being fed and a bar for preventing sagging of said sheet.

21. A grip feed as in claim 2 in which said means for rendering the clamping bar and feed bar urging means ineective includes respective clamping bar and feed 'oar cylinders having respective pistons associated therewith, said pistons being disposed to raise the respective upper clamping bar and upper feed bar against the action of the associated urging means when iiuid under pressure is supplied to said cylinders, a source of fluid under pressure, a first valve for connecting said source to said clamping bar cylinder and a second valve for connecting said source to said feed bar cylinder, said rst valve being adapted to being adapted to be actuated to supply Huidl under pressure Y Yto the feed bar cylinder during,thefeed'strolge;V LL

22. A grip feed asin claim 2 in which said 'feed `br Y' References Cited in the file ofrrthis pfatreniP .U'NIlI-EDv STATES PATENTS 1,375,889 n Baltzlrey Apr. 26, 1921 beactuatedto supply Huid under pressure toA sairzllclamp-V Y jing bar cylinder during the retnrnrstroke, said second `valve 42,006,040 Y V2,250,530 2,278,921 I 1:2Y f Pierce V V; Man-4L1930 i Crane ',Ju'nei 25,1935 Hafecost ,"Julyf29,;19417A Fischer '-l. ApriV 7, Y19.42 Y Haller June 26, 1,1945 Haller ;lApr.19n,A 1949 n Haller V Dec."23, 1952 Y Lyon Y .Tfui'.12, 1954 of the above numbered patent requiring U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Philo H. Denly 'et al. Merch A, 1958 appears .in the printed specification correction and that the said Lettere Patent No., 2,825,560

It is hereby certified that error Patent should read as corrected below.

'001mm 10:, line 55, 4or "dendering" read e rendering ed.

Signed and sealed this 24th dey of June 1958.`

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL En @CLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Conmssioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

